A local man surrendered to the Judiciary Police station on Friday, admitting that he cheated a friend and an ex-colleague out of HK$215,000 in two purported currency exchange deals, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said at a press briefing yesterday.
The 33-year-old suspect surnamed Vong told the police that he is a casino public relations staff.
According to Lei, the first victim, a friend of Vong, reported to the police on Wednesday that he or she was cheated by Vong out of HK$15,000. The victim, whose gender was not disclosed by the police, said that Vong agreed to exchange HK$15,000 into yuan at the favourable rate of 0.823 on Sunday. After his friend had transferred the amount to Vong’s bank account, the latter claimed that his account had been frozen so that he was unable to honour the deal. The victim decided to report the case to the police as he or she was unable to contact Vong.
Lei said that the second victim, Vong’s ex-colleague, reported to the police on Thursday that he or she was cheated by Vong out of HK$200,000. On January 4, the victim, whose gender was not revealed by the police either, agreed with Vong to exchange HK$200,000 at the favourable rate of 0.84 into yuan. After transferring HK$200,000 to Vong’s bank account, he did not receive the yuan from Vong who later told the victim that he had gambled away all the money. The victim then decided to report the case to the police.
Vong surrendered to the Judiciary Police on Friday. He told the police that he has a gambling habit and has gambling debts. He confessed that he defrauded the two victims.
Vong has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing fraud charges, according to Lei.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei looks on during yesterday’s press briefing at the PJ headquarters. Photo: Camy Tam
